Royal girls team wins own swim invitational

Royal High freshman varsity Gabbie Libang swims to first in the 100 butterfly during the 30th annual Royal Invitational Swimming Josh Mlakar Memorial on Saturday at Rancho Simi Community Park Pool in Simi Valley. Libang's teammates took second and third place in the race. The Highlander girls team scored 468 points to win the championship over Carpinteria and third-place Thousand Oaks.

Special to The Star

The Royal girls made themselves feel right at home Saturday by winning the 30th annual Royal Invitational Swimming Josh Mlakar Memorial at the Rancho Simi Community Park Pool.

Hynes also won the 100 breast stroke in 1:12.20. Hynes had spent two hours earlier in the day training with her Conjo Simi Swim Club team.

Thousand Oaks' Anna Quinn won the 200 IM in 2:12.17. Royal's Aly Abernathy was was second in 2:24.35.

Royal's Gabbie Libang prevailed in the 100 butterfly in 1:03.44. Teammattes Rebekah Park (1:05.55) and Wendy McAleer (1:06.32) were second and third, respectively.

The Royal girls won the 400 freestyle relay in 3:59.83 while Thousand Oaks was second at 4:08.63. Royal placed second in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:44.59 and was victorious in the 200 medley relay in 2:012.12. Thousand Oaks was second in 2:07.77.

Royal's Chantel Petty was third in the 100 freestyle in 59.16.

Cody Moore of Royal won the 100 boys freestyle in 48.77. Royal's Cameron Knudsen was second in 50.22. Aaron Schwartz of Calabasas was third in 50.23.

Jesse Camou won the 50 freestyle in 22.97. Moore was second at 22.97, but he eased up near the end of his race.

"The 100 free was OK," Moore said. "It was good for Jesse."

Camou was happy with his effort.

"It felt pretty good," said Camou said. "I'm very proud of myself."

Royal's Kyle Berg placed second in the 200 freestyle in 1:49.06.

The Highlanders' 200 boys medley relay team of Berg, Luka Wilmont, Miles Wix and Hunter Shebitt finished second in 1:47.11 The 200 freestyle team of Shebitt, Camou. Knudsen and Moore were second. Royal won th 400 freestyle relay in in 3:21.80 with Shebiit, Camou, Knudsen and Moore.

Moore said he likes swimming relays and being the anchor guy.

Royal head coach Steve Snyder was happy all the away around.

"To be third, we're happy to be there. We've done very well in dual meets (3-1) and beat Thousand Oaks for the first time in many years," Snyder said.

Snyder was glad the weather cooperated.

"The forecast was rain. I'm happy for the power of prayer. I was praying hard and the Lord answered my prayer with a beautiful day," Snyder said.

It rained hard Friday, but Saturday was a sunny day for swimmers.

Westlake's Ryan Lee won the 100 breast stroke in 1:01.35 and was second in the 100 butterfly in 53.43. Royal's Wilmont was third in the 100 breast stroke in 1:06.09.

Chandler Lee of Calabasas was second in the 500 freestyle and Royal's Berg was third in 4:59.42.